Gardaí probe if schoolgirl Ana’s killer was with her when she was last seen alive

Body of young teenager Ana (14) found in derelict farmhouse

Tragic schoolgirl viciously beaten and left to die

Family had raised alarm shortly after she failed to return home on Monday evening

First-year student described as 'particularly striking teenager'

'This is a terrible tragedy for the Kriegel family, our school and our community' - school

Ana KriegelCrime scene investigators at the scene on the Clonee Road, outside Lucan where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien EagersCrime scene investigators at the scene on the Clonee Road, outside Lucan where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien EagersAn ambulance removes a body from the scene at Clonee Road where a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien EagersState pathologist, Marie Cassidy at the scene at Clonee Road where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien EagersGarda and a crime scene investigator at the scene on the Clonee Road where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien EagersA crime scene investigator climbs out the window of a derelict house near the scene on the Clonee Road where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien EagersGarda and detectives at the scene on the Clonee Road where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien EagersGarda and crime scene investigators at the scene on the Clonee Road where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien EagersGarda at the scene on the Clonee Road where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien EagersGarda at the scene on the Clonee Road where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien EagersGarda at the scene on the Clonee Road where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien Eagers

Tragic schoolgirl Ana Kriegel was viciously beaten and left to die in a derelict farmhouse shortly after she went missing, gardai believe.

The severely injured body of the 14-year-old was discovered in a building off the Clonee Road in Lucan yesterday afternoon.

Gardaí believe that the teenager was stripped, beaten and left to die within hours of being reported missing by her parents on Monday night.

A murder investigation has now officially been launched as the post-mortem has been completed.

A significant line in the investigation is that she was killed by someone known to her and a full murder probe has been launched. It is being investigated if this person was with Ana in St Catherine’s Park, Lucan, at around 5.30pm when she was last seen alive.

Her body was found at the farmhouse just off the Clonee Road in Lucan.

How three-day search for Ana unfolded

A first-year student at Confey Community College, Ana Kriegel was described as a “particularly striking teenager” who was well known within her school and local community. Investigators also said that her family have been left extremely distressed by her tragic death.

Paying tribute after news of her tragic death, the school wrote in a statement; "We've learned yesterday (17th May 2018) of the death of Anastasia Kriegel. May she Rest in Peace. This is a terrible tragedy for the Kriegel family, our school and our community. We are deeply saddened by Anastasia's death. Our deepest sympathy to Anastasia’s family and friends."

Due to the serious nature of the crime, local gardaí are receiving assistance from a number of garda units including detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI).

Her family grew increasingly concerned when she did not return home, and contacted Leixlip garda station at around 8pm on Monday night.

Crime scene investigators at the scene on the Clonee Road, outside Lucan where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien Eagers

Following a three-day search, her remains were discovered in a derelict farmhouse around 2km from where she was last sighted.

The scene was preserved and the property was examined by members of the Garda Technical Bureau yesterday afternoon.

Gardaí are trying to find out if Ana had made an arrangement to meet up with somebody that evening and are checking out all mobile devices she might have used and looking at her activity on social media on Monday and in the previous few days.

The park where Ms Kriegel was last seen alive is a popular spot frequented by families with children.

State Pathologist Marie Cassidy speaks to a detective at the scene at Clonee Road in Lucan, Dublin. Photo: Damien Eagers

The 200-acre site, which was searched by gardaí for three days, stretches from Lucan to Leixlip and the nearby Clonee area.

But just a few hundred metres away towards the Clonee Road, the derelict property where Ana was discovered paints a far bleaker place.

Garda and crime scene investigators at the scene on the Clonee Road where the body of a young girl has been discovered. Picture credit; Damien Eagers

The farmhouse and surrounding property has been derelict for many years, and is a place frequented nowadays only by local youths as a hang-out spot.

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said she has been close friends with Ana’s family for decades. Ms Murphy said she had only spoken to Ms Kriegel’s parents on Wednesday night.

When she wasn’t contactable her parents went to the local garda station almost immediately. “They’re absolutely heartbroken,” Ms Murphy said.

A Garda crime scene investigator at the derelict house where the
body of Ana Kriegel was found yesterday. Photo: Damien Eagers

“They didn’t waste any time when she didn’t turn up at home, not communicating with her family was out of character entirely.

“They went to the guards at half past eight. This was just not like her,” she added.

Describing Ana, Ms Murphy said that the young teenager loved dogs and had a tight-knit group of friends. “Ana was tall for her age, but she was a big kid,” Ms Murphy said.

“She loved dogs, she’d have you pestered about what type of dog was this or that.”

Ms Kriegel was also involved in the performing arts, practicing in a dance academy in Leixlip. Last night, State pathologist Marie Cassidy conducted a preliminary examination of the schoolgirl’s remains. Supt John Gordon, of Lucan garda station, said the family are “extremely distressed”.